The holidays are approaching. Everyone is creating their naughty and nice lists. Next Friday, the day after we celebrate Thanksgiving, Americans will hit the malls and big box retailers to buy iPods and clothes, DVDs and stuffed animals, for loved ones and the Secret Santa exchanges and our children. Some see it as a secular holiday, others celebrate the holiday in a religious context.

We are a lucky people. By the accident of our birth in this great nation, hope of a better future is always on the horizon - even in the darkest circumstances.

Twenty-four years ago Bob Geldof and Midge Ure drafted Bono, Sting, and other music industry luminaries to come together as “Band-Aid” to raise awareness of the famine in Ethiopia. I was twelve. At the time, I had already spent many a Halloween with my little orange box from UNICEF - collecting the change of my neighbors and watching my mother roll it up, then turn it in to my teachers. I knew there were children without food, without water, without homes, without families to love and protect them.

I remember the first time I heard Geldof and Ure’s creation for the artists that combined forces to be Band-Aid. It was just after Thanksgiving - my family and I were in the car, on our way to a school holiday program, when it first rang through the airwaves: ”Do they know it’s Christmas?” I remember telling my mom to turn it up, we listened to the last half just sitting in the parking lot. Our beautiful school, in the suburbs of Atlanta, was so clean, so perfect so fortunate were all of us. Hearing that song fixed in my heart what the UNICEF box meant.

That as a human being - I had a responsibility to make the world around me a bit better place than it was when I arrived. The famine that inspired a news report, that moved Bob Geldof to write the song year in Ethiopia has passed… but since then, Africa has seen more tragedy. Genocide in Rwanda. Uganda’s child soldiers, the unknown children. Blood diamond mines, across the continent where women and children are beaten, tortured, enslaved and mutilated. Widespread preventable diseases like malaria kills thousands and thousands of children every year. Somalia faces a crisis, again - famine is creeping in and Islamists threaten to end what little life there is to sustain. Kenya has been ripped by violence. More than a million people have died at the hands of Islamist butchers, the Janjaweed - who use Rape and Genocide in the name of Allah.

In 1984, I was the same age my daughter is now. We do the same things I did with my mother. The little orange boxes on Halloween from UNICEF. And more: raising awareness and pointing kids to ONE. Encouraging folks to wear RED clothes from The GAP and buy RED products, like the awesome U2 filled iPod. Consuming info from DebtAidsTradeAfrica, Save Darfur, and especially The IRC.

I belive in the full funding of PEPFAR. Truthfully, it is far cheaper - and has a long term upside - compared to another Bailout for the Big 3 Automakers. I believe in the full funding of the Millennium Development Goals. Earlier this year, the Pentagon launched AfriCom - and looking at the increased activity of pirates off the coast of Somalia, and remembering my friends who served in The Mog - and others who served in Rwanda… I wonder if our generation, Gen X, will get the opportunity to set right the mistakes and catastrophic failures recognized by some who came before us. Not many.

Most dismissed “Do they know it’s Christmas?” as a self-indulgent, ego-satisfying step of some in the music industry. The truth is, I remember those voices. When the single hit the stores, it charted at Number One. It sold eight million copies world wide. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher did not want to waive the VAT (tax) because why should the government give up it’s share? Public outrage grew so quickly, Lady Thatcher acquiesced. And every cent of the three million copies sold in the UK went to famine relief in Ethiopia. Many of us in Generation X were affected. We remember the end of Apartheid too. We also know that many of the problems in Africa have worsened. The people neglected. We are old enough now to take up that charge anew. And we are, thanks to the leadership of folks like George W. Bush, whose legacy in Africa is unparalleled. And Bono, Geldof, and few others.

Geldof went on to organize Live Aid - which harnessed I remember as well. July 1985 - they raised roughly the equivalent of $245 million for famine relief. They held a similar event Live Aid 20, in 2005. There are so many avenues to help - there can be no more excuses. No more waiting out the clock. If we believe, as a people, that we should be our brother’s keeper - then we don’t have a moment to waste. The government can’t fix this. Real men and real women - in government, in public life, and all of us that are private citizens, must reject the Starvation of Hope for Africa and her people.

We must all works toward liberating Africa from its image, and reality, as the forgotten continent.

—Media Lizzy

Our Military On Political Pistachio Radio

On The Radio This Week!

ONCE A MARINE - An Iraq War Tank Commander’s Inspirational Story of Combat, Courage, and Recovery. Nick Popaditch appeared in an AP photo on April 9, 2003. The striking image was of the Marine tank commander smoking a victory cigar in his tank, the haunting statue of Saddam Hussein hovering in the background. “Gunny Pop” was immortalized forever as “The Cigar Marine.” A year later he fought heroically in the First Battle for Fallujah and suffered head wounds that left him legally blind and partially deaf. The United States Marine Corps awarded him a Silver Star for his valor and combat innovation. Coming home, however, is when the toughest fight of his life began - a battle to remain the man and Marine he was. Join Political Pistachio Radio on Tuesday Night at 10:00 pm Eastern Time/7:00 pm Pacific for a riveting interview with Nick Popaditch, a Marine’s Marine, a man who embodies everything noble and proud in the Corps’ long tradition.

What You Missed Last Week:

Saturday Sgt. Michael Volkin joined us to discuss his latest book, The Accomplishments of Senator Barack Hussein Obama. (From the book’s site, www.obamaresearch.com) The Accomplishments of Senator Barack Hussein Obama is a comprehensive, factual book about presidential candidate Barack Obama. The book is based on hours of research, dozens of speeches and listening to dozens of his supporters. The Accomplishments of Barack Hussein Obama accounts for all the presidential qualifications of Senator Barack Obama.

Some of the various topics this book discusses are:

+ His Detailed Plans of Change
+ His Senate Accomplishments
+ His Presidential Qualifications
+ Important Points He Has Made Without a Teleprompter or Prepared Script

This book includes title page, copyright page, a complete table of contents, running page headers, and a conclusion. Each book’s chapters, however, are BLANK!

Michael Volkin was the guest last Saturday on Political Pistachio Radio.

Also Last Week:

Mr. and Mrs. Cyber-Pastor’s adventures at the Republican National Convention
Mr. and Mrs. CP on PPR

9/11 Anniversary with the Executive Director of Let’s Get This Right .com, Sheridan Folger.
9/11 and Sheridan Folger on PPR

The Political Director, Dr. Bill Smith, of Let’s Get This Right .com joined us to discuss the Republican National Convention, Election 2008, and how the New Media is becoming a major force in shaping the public’s opinion and the rebirth of the Conservative Movement.
Dr. Bill Smith, Political Director of LGTR on PPR

Paul Volosen of www.mccainpalin2008.blogspot.com joined us to discuss the rise of Sarah Palin, as well as the continually changing upcoming election.
McCain/Palin 2008 on PPR

Amateur Kick Boxer Scott Venrick joined Political Pistachio to answer the question, does violence beget violence?
Does Violence Beget Violence? Let’s Ask A Kick Boxer on PPR

Alfonzo of MachoSauceProduction joins us to talk about being a black conservative, and why Conservativism is on the rise.
Macho Sauce Production on PPR

On the Blogs:

Doug Battles As He Adjusts To His New Life as a Trucker.

Newt Gingrich Shuts Up MSNBC.

I Remember 9/11.

See you next weekend (or earlier should a key guest come up) -

Doug
www.politicalpistachio.com

Sarah Palin, John McCain’s pick for Vice President, a Masterful Stroke That Is No Surprise To Political Pistachio

The choice of Sarah Palin by John McCain to be his running mate shocked and stunned the mainstream media. They are calling her a relative unknown, and have been saying she may not be the best pick because of her inexperience.

Barack Obama, in response to the McCain VP pick, said, “Inexperience is now off the table.”

Thanks, Obama, for finally admitting that you are too inexperienced. Second, she has much more experience than you, is in an executive governmental position of the likes you have never held, and you can’t compare her experience to yours anyway because unlike you she is not the leader of the ticket.

What Palin brings to the race, however, is more than shock and awe. She is strong on energy, understanding the issue better than any of the four candidates. Palin is the most popular of all of the nation’s state governors, maintaining the highest approval rating throughout her term of office. She understands the military mission we have engaged in as a nation, and her oldest son is currently enlisted in the Army and will soon be in Iraq to serve his nation. There are some questions regarding her position on abortion. Many have her listed as pro-choice, but I ask you this: If she is so staunchly pro-choice, then why didn’t she abort her newest child well knowing while she was pregnant that he has down-syndrome?

The most important part of this choice, however, is that she is one of us. She came to politics after serving on the PTA for her children. She slowly moved up doing the things that you and I do - maintaining the household, and taking care of our families. Her husband is a working man. He is a commercial fisherman and oil pipeline worker. She isn’t a career politician with lobbyists in her pocket, and corruption in her head from a life-long commitment to Washington. She does, however, have a lot of experience as a leader. She has been the mayor of her small town, and the governor of the great state of Alaska. That is executive leadership that both Biden and Obama lacks.

Some argue that Biden will tear her up in a debate because he is this rabid bulldog, and she is a quiet woman. Will he tear her up? Does she have a chance in a debate with Biden? Those that question her ability to stand tough on the issues and handle the Bidens of the world don’t know Palin like I do. The fireworks will be fascinating indeed, and she will handle herself just fine in such a debate.

And the fact that she is a woman adds a lot to the ticket as well. Hillary supporters that are dissatisfied with Obama will now have another reason to consider a McCain Presidency.

When Sarah Palin stood before the American people in Ohio accepting the opportunity to join McCain, her speech was about America. It was about our men and women serving in the military, the importance of drilling for oil domestically (basic economics of supply and demand that the left seems not to understand), about ending corruption and excess spending in Washington, and about pride in the great nation of the United States of America.

When Obama spoke last night, standing there on his Greek palace in Denver, he talked about himself and about how terrible the United States is. He made no mention of the dangerous world we are facing (terrorism, Russia, China. . .). He preferred to continue the “Everything is Bush’s Fault” tactic of the Democratic Party (even though Bush is not running for office and most of what they claim is wrong is a straight out lie). One thing he used was saying that all of the jobs are being shipped off to China. Most people forget that NAFTA and other programs that began long before “W” took office was the result of the Democrats ruling Washington for over 40 years, and it wasn’t until 1994 when that changed - for a little while - It was the Democrats that created the failed policies, free trade agreements, and entitlement programs that are now falling apart before our eyes.

As an added note, I am not surprised that Sarah Palin was the choice. I indicated a year ago (September 20, 2007) that she would be a fine Vice President of the United States. My first mention of Palin on Political Pistachio was on July 28, 2007.

July 28, 2007 one of the supporters of Sarah Palin, Steve Maloney, came on Political Pistachio Radio to discuss his hopes Palin would become the next President of the United States, or at least Vice President. On October 17th of last year, Adam Brickley of the Palin For V.P. movement joined me to discuss why Sarah Palin should be the Vice President of the United States of America. Both of these gentlemen have been on my show a number of times since to discuss the possibility of Sarah Palin becoming the running mate of the Repubican Presidential Candidate (November 24 of last year, and in 2008 on February 25.

After these interviews I enthusiastically embraced the possibility of Sarah Palin as Vice President.

After a wonderful interview on Fox News today, Adam Brickley of Palin For VP will join me tomorrow on Political Pistachio Radio.

Tonight: I am guest on the John Barnhart show at from 5-7 pm Pacific. Political Pistachio Radio will follow later in the evening at 9 pm Pacific.

For years… Democrats criticized the Bush-Cheney model for election.  During 2000, there were cries for gravitas.  Experience.  Even a DC Insider to join then Governor George W. Bush’s team - and make him more electable.

Barack Obama has heard those same cries. He began as an anti-War, anti-Patriot Act, anti-Bush Democrat.  This week, he acknowledged the success of the surge in front of the VFW convention.  Why?  He can’t trash the service of Beau Biden, the son of his running mate.  This summer, Obama voted for the FISA bill that includes domestic surveillance and retroactive immunity for telecom companies that assisted the Feds after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.  As for being anti-Bush, Barack Obama’s language on that count has dissolved into obsequious praise for Laura Bush.  Around the time First Daughter Jenna Bush was married by Kirbyjon Caldwell, who supports Barack Obama… the softening began. Even Michelle Obama has heaped praise on the First Family.

Obama cried out for a timetable in Iraq.  Condi Rice is in the process of negotiating a Status of Forces Agreement with a firm timetable - with US Forces leaving in 2011, helping Obama to undermine McCain.  Neither President Bush, nor Secretary of State Condi Rice has stepped out to declare Mission Accomplished in Iraq — even though, that is clearly the case — and it would NEVER have been possible without Senator John McCain’s shaming of W and advocacy for the Surge.

Republicans and Democrats will be angered by my stance here.  But let me remind you that political players are all too human, and occasionally Machiavellian.Senator John McCain’s career has been marked by a service, devotion to Country, honor, family, solving problems by taking the lead on tough issues, and a healthy skepticism of party leadership - and their motivations. All of this separates him from the conventional wisdom but it also deepens his appeal to average Americans that are tired of politics as usual. John McCain is the real change agent in this election - because he will put America First.

—Media Lizzy